Portable Debris Retainer

ABSTRACT

The Portable Debris Retainer is a unique addition to the safety of stump grinding. The Portable Debris Retainer is a portable, collapsible, free standing shield to be used in conjunction with a stump grinder in order to contain flying debris. A single piece of netting type fabric is attached to a metal, tubular style framework. The Retainer shall be 12 feet in length and 5 feet tall. When placed along the radius of the stump work area, the Portable Debris Retainer shall significantly reduce occurrences injury and property damage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a debris retainer shield for use with a tree stump grinder. More specifically, a safety accessory to block debris produced by the stump grinder's cutting system. In Its genesis, concerns paramount the prevention of injury and property damage caused by the liberation of matter via a stump grinder's high speed cutting system. Propelled debris is contained by said debris retainer for collection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Instances in which people or property have been injured or damaged by the use of a stump grinder without adequate debris containment. In stump grinding, stones and metal objects may be embedded in the tree stump and the surrounding earth. These objects are difficult to detect or undetectable and are often thrown at high speed when struck by the stump grinder's cutting system. Hence, containment of debris is necessary to prevent damage or injury.

Many attempts have been made to contain such debris with some success; however, the Portable Debris Retainer goes beyond all known attempts in offering key elements not otherwise found on previous attempts. The Portable Debris Retainer's portable lightweight design encourages safety with minimal implementation effort. Single person setup is lent to only the operator of the stump grinder to be present for proper setup. Portability, ease of setup and effectiveness are the driving motivations for the current Portable Debris Retainer's design. Weighing only 10 lbs. its lightweight design augments ease of use. Expandable articulating framework allows for limitless configurations up to 12 feet in length; ground set, or free standing. Further, the effectiveness of the Portable Debris Retainer is augmented by allowing several inches of deflection of the material, increasing the time associated with impact thus decreasing the energy of the flying debris. Energy absorption is a key concept implemented in the Portable Debris Retainer's design.

Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved stump grinder debris shield. The Portable Debris Retainer is a portable collapsible free standing shield to be used in conjunction with a stump grinder in order to contain flying debris. Offering significant improvements, to portability, ease of use, and effective debris containment. The Retainer shall be 12 feet in length and 5 feet tall. When placed along the perimeter of the stump grinding work area, the Portable Debris Retainer shall significantly reduce occurrences of injury and property damage.

Benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein;

FIG. 1 Illustrates straight view of expanded said framework.

FIG. 2 Illustrates overall said material.

FIG. 3 Illustrates frameworks' top end joint.

FIG. 4 Illustrates frameworks' top middle joints.

FIG. 5 Illustrates frameworks' top middle joints expandability.

FIG. 6 Illustrates frameworks' bottom conic tip.

FIG. 7 illustrates the materials elastic holders used to attach the material to the framework.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a work area consisting of a stump grinder and portable debris retainer in its present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The present invention relates in general to a debris retainer shield for use with a tree stump grinder. More specifically, a safety accessory to block debris produced by the stump grinder's cutting system. It should be recognized, however, that the portable debris retainer may also be used with other debris producing machinery.

Referring to the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1. shows the framework of tubular members fully extended. Tubular members 1,2,3 are positioned as shown to create a horizontally collapsible framework. Members represented by 3 are fastened to the top of 1,2 and allowed to pivot. Members represented by 3 are further riveted at the midpoint 7 allowing 3 to rotate from an angle of 90 degrees (fully extended) to 0 degrees (fully collapsed) with respect to one another. Each section of the framework is further allowed to rotate about the axis formed by vertical member 2.

Referring to FIG. 2. the preferred embodiment of the material that is attached to the aforementioned framework. The material 10 consisting of loosely woven PVC coated polyester spaced at approximately 3/16^(th) inch vertically and 1/16^(th) inch horizontally. The material 10 is surrounded on three sides with a canvas border 9. Additional material 9 is folded into a pocket style holder 11,12 which is placed over the frameworks joints 4,5. The material is also fashioned with elastic holders 13,14 which have a hole through them allowing tubular members 1,2 to pass through thus securing the material to the framework.

Turning to FIG. 3 we have the preferred embodiment of the framework joint 4. The joint is designed to connect members 1 and 3 and allow member 3 to traverse an included angle of 0-45 degrees relative to joint 4. Member 1 remains vertical.

In FIG. 4, vertical member 2 is affixed to joint 5, members 3 are attached in the same manner as described in FIG. 3. where member 2 remains vertical. Members 3 are allowed to traverse an included angle of 0-45 degrees relative to joint 5. thus producing an angle of 90 degrees between members 3.

FIG. 5 Illustrates the extending and rotating action with respect to FIG. 4 of joint 5.

FIG. 6 Illustrates the conic tip 8 affixed to the bottom end of each member 1,2.

FIG. 7 Illustrates the elastic holders used to affix the position of material 10 to vertical members 1,2. Members 1,2 pass through grommets used in 1 3,14 elastic holders.

FIG. 8 Illustrates an example work area, a stump grinder placed in close proximity of the portable debris retainer in an arced configuration. 

1. A Portable Debris Retainer for a tree stump grinder, said retainer comprising: A shield placed within the perimeter of a work area, said shield having a framework portion and a material portion. Said work area comprising of a tree stump at the center and approximately 15 foot radius from said stump.
 2. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material consists of one piece.
 3. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 2 wherein said material comprises a main netting type material and canvas border.
 4. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 3 wherein said canvas border has pockets sewn to it to facilitate attachment to framework.
 5. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework is fitted into said pockets of claim
 4. 6. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework consists of 5 vertical tubular members which maintain the Portable Debris Retainer's 5 foot height. And 8 intersecting tubular members which hold the 5 vertical tubes together at a joint.
 7. The Portable Debris Retainer framework in claim 6 wherein said framework's two end vertical tubular members have sliding locking position indents to hold framework extended.
 8. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework's inner three vertical tubular members are identical.
 9. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework has 4 sections of intersecting X-fashioned tubular members riveted at each intersection. Each capable of retracting and expanding traversing an angle from 90 degrees (completely open) to 180 degrees (completely collapsed).
 10. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material and said framework comprises a flexible wall.
 11. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material and said framework are placed along the arc of the stump grinders cutting path.
 12. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 11 wherein said arc's radius shall be no more than 10 feet from the stump grinders cutting system.
 13. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material and said framework stand vertically, perpendicular to the ground in which it stands.
 14. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material consists of PVC coated polyester.
 15. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material's weave is loosely spaced at approximately 3/16^(th) inch vertically 1/16^(th) inch horizontally.
 16. The Portable Debris Retainer material spacing of claim 15 wherein said spacing allows a yield to wind.
 17. The portable debris retainer is a unique addition to the safety of stump grinding.
 18. The portable debris retainer will serve to significantly reduce injury and property damage by blocking flying debris from leaving the contained area.
 19. Said portable debris retainer contains debris for easier cleanup.
 20. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said portable debris retainer is fashioned from tear resistant material.
 21. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material is flame retardant.
 22. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material has sufficient tensile strength to stop typical flying debris.
 23. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework is constructed of tubular metal.
 24. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework is joined together through riveted polycarbonate joints.
 25. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said framework collapses from 12 feet in length to approximately 6 inches, and maintains a constant 5 foot height.
 26. Said portable debris retainer framework contains conic polycarbonate tips on one end which facilitate ground penetration.
 27. The Portable Debris Retainer of claim 1 wherein said material yields a deflection to increase contact time between the flying debris and the debris retaining material, and thus transferring energy from the debris to the portable debris retainer. 